General Atomics presents small modular reactor

Dr John Parmentola, General Atomics’ senior VP, describes key details on the company’s Energy Multiplier Module (EM2), a small modular reactor that is now in competition for a $452m federal program to help bring the reactor to market.

The reactor has been designed to operate for 30 years use without the need for refuelling, utilises depleted uranium as a fuel source, can be sited underground in sealed containment, and uses helium as a coolant.

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Tom Clements | 11 Sep 2013 5:40 pm

One US Department of Energy subsidy for design and licensing (not construction) of an SMRs has been granted and that model is a LWR. Three more LWRs are competing for a second DOE subsidy, to be decided by year's end. It could be unlikely that a helium-cooled model is seriously in the running.